Interview: Peter Tranter

Photos: Andi Brunner,
Jens Klatt,
Niels Jung,
David Sodomka &
Maike Möst

Flying high
A chat with… Andi Brunner

Andi has been a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine over recent years, with paddling stories from across the planet. We interrupted his busy schedule to have a quick chat about him, his inspirations, his worldly travels and what he sings in the shower!

So when did you first start kayaking, and what specifically got you hooked on WW kayaking?
I started the sport as a kid in a kayaking family. I don’t think I can put it down to one single reason that got me hooked; it’s more the combination of everything: the feeling you get when you nail a rapid or when you can use the water in your favour, the nature, the adventures on the trips and the community.

Is there anywhere in the world that’s got you wanting to keep going back again and again?
Absolutely! Actually, I got three: the Zambezi, Norway and my fridge!

You’re one of the paddlers of this generation. Which paddlers from the past would you have loved to have paddled with?
I would have loved to paddle with Sam Sutton! I met him briefly at Sickline when I was younger, and he seems to be such a cool guy. And his whitewater skills are super impressive! But who knows, maybe I’ll have a chance to paddle on the Kaituna with him one day.

Have you ever feared any particular river or waterfall?
Basically, every waterfall higher than 50 feet!

It’s a tough call with all the expeditions throughout the world you have undertaken, but does one pop up as your favourite?
Yes! Our trip to the Rondu gorge in Pakistan 2020. This trip is unforgettable to me. The six of us had such a great group dynamic. There were so many crazy things happening, but nothing could ruin our positive team spirit.

If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within WW paddling before giving it up, what would that be?
To be the fastest extreme kayaker.

Any singular piece of advice would you give to a young paddler just starting in WW?
Keep kayaking; the sport gets more and more rewarding the better you are! Please do it for yourself, not to prove anything to anyone. And if you don’t feel like running a rapid, don’t do it. There is no shame in portaging.

Can you talk about your training? What keeps you motivated?
I love my training! It just feels so good to push the limits of my body, and it brings me closer to my goal. My training load became more intense over the past years, and it became a full-time job. It’s tough at times but keeping my goal in mind keeps the fire burning!

When preparing for an expedition in remote locations, what qualities do you look for in a fellow team mate kayaker?
First of all, he needs to be a solid kayaker. After that, the most important thing to me is how a person handles unexpected/unpredicted challenges. On expeditions, things don’t always go as planned and complaining about it doesn’t make it better. I appreciate it when a person can quickly accept the situation, take it positively and try to solve the problem.

I’m a paddler and looking for the perfect river; where would you recommend?
That depends on the skill of the paddler. Every kayaker that paddles class IV – or better HAS to go to the Zambezi if he hasn’t seen it. It is an experience you don’t want to miss out. For very strong, extreme kayakers, I would recommend the Indus in Pakistan. Although there are many insanely huge rapids, you can always walk around them and still have tons of world-class big water class IVs for seven days. You do want to go with people you know and trust, though.

Is there anyone in particular in the sporting world that has influenced you?
My parents and my brother for sure had a significant influence on me when I was younger. My mom taught me the techniques, my dad was super good at keeping our stoke high and making us have tons of fun on the river, and my brother and I were like best friends that pushed each other.

When I was a teenager, Bernie, a good friend of my parents who runs the kayak school source to sea, supported me a lot, helped me get out on the river and taught me the modern style of kayaking.

After that, an unknown guy called Gregor Becke randomly showed up at an extreme kayak race and kicked everybody’s ass. He talked to me and offered to give me some training tips. Over the years, he became my coach and one of my best friends. He is the brain behind my guns.

Competitions or expeditions – which is your favourite and why?
Tough one because expeditions can be good training for competitions if timed correctly, in my opinion. I love this so much about my training that expeditions are a meaningful part of it. Without them, I wouldn’t enjoy my training that much, and thus I wouldn’t be such a big fan of the competitions. But expeditions without the goal of getting faster at the back of my mind wouldn’t be as special to me as they are now.

What do you do when not kayaking?
Training, eating, other outdoor sports, hanging out with friends, answering questions of an interview, in that order.

What’s the one river you haven’t paddled that would be on your bucket list?
Hmm, that would be the Stikine, I think.

Are there any issue that stops you from sleeping at night?
Luckily, I am an excellent sleeper. But for sure, there are issues on my mind that make me think a lot, but that’s something I’d rather talk about in person as I’m just a kayaker, not a smart guy.

Name just one thing we can do as paddlers to improve our rivers and their environment.
Point out our environment’s importance to people who haven’t spent much time thinking about it yet. “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh.

Quickies

If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
My grandfather. He was the one who got our family into kayaking, and I would love to paddle with him one last time and talk to him at the campfire.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents.
Zach Braff and Lynn Hill.

Which famous person would you most like to play you in a film?
Arnold Schwarzenegger, obviously.

Are you a bathroom/shower singer, and if so, what do you sing?
Not a singer but a bathroom dancer. Too many different songs but usually from the genres Hip-Hop, House or Reggae.

An ideal night out for you is?
A warm summer night outside with a clear sky and good friends. Or a rainy night inside with good friends watching a movie and chit-chatting.

What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
My kayak.

What would I find in your fridge right now?
Mozarella light and hummus.

If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
Schnitzel and Kaiserschmarren.

What’s the most boring question you are often asked?
How is it going at Uni?

If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?
To be invincible, find the highest waterfall out there and then boof it as hard as I could. Or maybe I would choose flying and fly around the whole day.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Happy, naive and tolerant.